Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Review of "The Gate Thief" by Orson Scott Card

Brief Summary: The Gate Thief continues the story of Danny North, Wad, and life in Westil and Earth.

Long Summary: I really enjoy this series. This book continues the world of Danny North and Wad. Danny is fighting against Bel. Wad is trying to get back at the queen using his secret weapon whom he has come to love. The story is full of twists and turns. Teens are involved so there is of course romance as well. Overall I think the story is good and I look forward to the conclusion of the series with Gatefather.

Rating: 4.3/5

Other Works: Pathfinder, Ender's Game

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Review of "The Lost Gate" by Orson Scott Card

Brief Summary: The Lost Gate tells the story of Danny North and his discovery of a hidden power which opens up his world.

Long Summary: Danny North is an outcast in his family due to his lack of god-like powers. When he plays a prank, on cousins he is in charge of watching, the family threatens to kill him. Danny figures out he is a gatefather and knows he will be hunted by the families if they find out.  He escapes from the compound and starts a life on his own. He develops relationships along the way as he explores his new powers.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. I was excited to continue the series with "The Gate Thief".

Rating: 4.5/5

Other Works: A Town Divided by ChristmasChildren of the Fleet

Review of "The Host" by Stephanie Meyer

Brief Summary: The Host details the integration of an alien with a human body and the struggles that ensue between the human and the alien minds.

Long Summary: The Wanderer is an alien who is implanted into a human host and then deals with the host mind still being present. Melanie and her brother were on the run and thought they were the last humans alive. While raiding Melanie runs into Jarrod another human. The three of them then become a family. Melanie sees her cousin on TV and decides to try and find her without her brother or Jarrod. She is tracked by the Seekers and jumps to her death to avoid becoming a host. Her body is able to be repaired and the Wanderer is put into Melanie's body.

The Wanderer wakes up and can tell something is not right. Her host body obeys her commands but she is having problems accessing Melanie's memories. As she remembers information she passes it along so Jarrod and Jamie can be found by Melanie keeps trying to block her. Eventually Wanda and Melanie reach an agreement and go to look for Jarrod and Jamie. They end up almost dying but find them. The reception is not a warm one and it takes a while for the community to trust and accept Wanda as they come to call her. The story continues with twist and turns and the changing of feelings as well as an unexpected relationship.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. While Twilight was very romance based and driven I feel The Host has more depth to it. The feelings of both the host and alien are explored as well as the feelings of the humans involved. I am very glad I read this book and look forward to reading more from Stephanie Meyer.



Rating: 4/5

Other works: The Chemist, The Twilight Saga

Friday, January 18, 2019

Review of "Scrappy Little Nobody" by Anna Kendrick


Brief Summary:  Scrappy Little Nobody is a biography about Anna Kendrick how even though she has had success in Hollywood she still feels as if she doesn't belong.

Long Summary: Anna Kendrick recounts her life from her beginnings as a child in theater in New York to her rise to fame in Hollywood. My interest in Anna Kendrick began with seeing her in Twilight. Her character was peppy and fun in stark contrast to Bella. The next time was in Pitch Perfect. I loved chorus in high school so love a musical movie. I was excited for Pitch Perfect 2 and Into the Woods. In this story Anna describes her parents giving her and her brother freedom in New York City for auditions. She describes in detail how even then she didn't fit in but made it work. The best part of the book for me came when she started describing her life in LA. She was living in an apartment with roommates for what seemed to me a long time into her "success".  I think this just speaks to who she is as a person. I also appreciate her descriptions of arriving to the red carpet so uncomfortable because you don't wanna crease the dress for the upcoming pictures. Honestly for someone who thought it might be fun to be famous it sounds like a nightmare. The title fits perfectly because as she describes in the book she is to herself still a scrappy little nobody, even with the admiration of fans throughout the world.

I would recommend this book if you are at all interested in origin stories, and learning more about the trials and tribulations of becoming a celebrity in Hollywood.

Rating: 4/5

Other Works: Pitch Perfect Songbook

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Review of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" by George R. R. Martin

Brief Summary: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms recounts the story of how Sir Duncan became a knight and his adventures in Westeros.

Long Summary: Sir Duncan the tall was a squire to a hedge knight and was knighted before his death. Sir Duncan then goes off to find a tournament to prove his worth and gain more money. On the way a boy, Egg, follows and wants to be his squire.  At this first tournament several important knights from the royal family are in attendance. Sir Duncan defends the honor of a maiden striking a royal. The royal demands trial by combat. Sir Duncan needs to find other knights to defend with him or he forfeits and loses his life. Another royal and several more knights come to his aide. A squire of knight who was supposed to be fighting for Duncan but turned on him becomes knighted to aide in Sir Duncan's cause. In the end the battle is a draw but royal blood is drawn as the royal knight who was aiding Sir Duncan ends up dying from a head wound when he removes his helm. After this encounter Sir Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg, who is of royal blood as well, continue their travels of Westeros being hedge knights wherever they can.

I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the world of Westeros again. Learning more about the time before the game of thrones helps provide more context on what is to come. If you are interested in Westeros and enjoy detailed prose in which you can be drawn in to the world building I recommend this book for you.

Rating:  4.5/5
Other Works: The Book of Swords, A Game of Thrones

Monday, January 14, 2019

Review of "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Brief Summary: "Ender's Game " details the story of a young child Ender who is conscripted to save the world and his struggles.

Long Summary: Ender Wiggins is a third, a genius, and the best hope humanity has to survive against the buggers. I enjoyed listening to this novel. In the postscript the author states the book is better in audio than as a movie and I would have to agree. I enjoyed listening and I found hard to put down.  The story is a gripping look into the life of a small boy with a two children already. His siblings are smart as well and his relationship with his brother is tumultuous. His brother, Peter, hates Ender and makes his life miserable. His sister Valentine is his life and emotional support. Ender is taken away from his family and goes to learn how to be a solider to fight the buggers. A majority of the book focuses on this training and how Ender deals with training emotionally. In the end Ender ends up living on the desolate bugger planet with his sister Valentine. 

If you are interested in emotional dramas and war training I would recommend this book to you.

Rating: 4/5

Other Works: Ender's Shadow, Lost Boys:A Novel

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Review of "Why not me?" by Mindy Kaling

Brief Summary: Why not me? by Mindy Kaling recounts her success in Hollywood against the odds.

Long Summary: Oh, Mindy Kaling. I appreciate how far she has come as a comic I really do. She has paved the way for so many more young girls to follow their passion and make other people happy. The book recounts various stories from her career and road to success. I am writing this review almost a month after listening to the audio-book and sadly not much has stuck with me. I was interested as I listened but not enthralled to keep reading.

If knowing more about a leading female comic with some witty humor that you may forget quickly is what you are looking for please pick up this book.

Rating: 3/5

Other Works: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Review of "What If" by Randall Munroe

Brief Summary: What If? by Randall Munroe delves into the answers to questions readers to his comic XKCD have sent in to be answered.

Long Summary: "What If?" caught my attention as I have long been a fan of his online comic XKCD.  The premise for this book is quite silly. Munroe is answering questions readers have sent to his online comics email. There are some which are quite improbable and therefore answering them seems unusual. The fact I listened to the book made the questions and answers seem all the more silly in some cases. Overall, I don't think this was a bad book but if you are a fan of the visual medium do not listen to the book instead read in print or online.


Rating: 3/5

Other Works: Thing Explainer